Important information

• Many of our volunteers chose to hitch-hike between the Khao Sok tourist centre and Gaarawe. Some have been able to hitch-hike from Surat Thani, or even Bangkok. Most locals are familiar with hitch-hiking and eager to help, and the road is a major east-west route. Contact us for tips!
• The closest ATM to the west is the Khao Sok tourist centre, to the east is Phanom. We strongly recommend you withdraw any money you need before arriving at the village.
• Fewer people speak English in this area than the tourist hubs like Phuket and Krabi, so it might be useful to download a Thai/English translation app just in case.

Directions

From Bangkok:

Take a night bus from Southern Bus Terminal or a sleeper train from Hualamphong to Surat Thani. From the bus or train station you can get a bus or minivan going to Khao Sok. Bear in mind the first bus is about 7am. Many of the drivers (and passengers) know Gaarawe or Lele but if they don’t you can save Gaarawé’s location on your phone and show it to the driver or their assistant, or try asking them to stop at Taanwat Resort.

From Surat Thani Airport

Before departing, call the minivan company that goes from Surat Thani to Khao Sok  at +66(0)77395025, or +66(0)818939882, and tell them your arrival time. Bear in mind the first service leaves Surat Thani bus terminal at 7am. The minivan will wait for you in front of the departures hall and pick you up on its way to Phanom/Khao Sok. It should cost around 200THB-300THB and the trip will take about an hour. Many of the drivers (and passengers) know Gaarawe or Lele but if they don’t you can save Gaarawé’s location on your phone and show it to the driver or their assistant, or try asking them to stop at Taanwat Resort.

From Phuket Airport

There is a public bus that goes from Phuket to Surat Thani through Takua Pa. The stop is 10km from Phuket Airport, on the main road, opposite the police station. Ask at the airport for assistance. The buses come from Phuket town, and reach the airport area about 30-45 minutes later. We advise you contact a travel agent for the schedule as it’s a 4 hour ride and there aren’t many buses per day.

Alternately, you can take a public bus, a minivan or a private taxi from the Airport to the Phuket central bus station. From there, there are more buses going to Surat Thani.

The village is about 25km after the Khao Sok tourist centre on Route 401. Many of the drivers (and passengers) know Gaarawe or Lele but if they don’t you can save Gaarawé’s location on your phone and show it to the driver or their assistant, or try asking them to stop at Taanwat Resort. 

From Krabi

First you have to take a bus or minivan to Khao Sok, and continue the last 25km from there. (See below for details).

From Khao Sok

Head to the bus stop on the main road (401). It’s only a 30-minute drive to Gaarawé straight down the road towards Surat Thani. Many of the drivers (and passengers) know Gaarawe or Lele but if they don’t you can save Gaarawé’s location on your phone and show it to the driver or their assistant, or try asking them to stop at Taanwat Resort.